Q Who is responsible for the high parking fees at downtown San Jose lots? We attend Symphony Silicon Valley and Opera San Jose at the California Theater and park in the lot across the street from Second Street. The fee is $5 per hour, with a maximum of $20. Of course we end up paying $20 each time. I call that highway robbery. The fee is outrageous for senior citizens who want to support the arts and are on fixed incomes.

Helen Rezendes

A This lot is privately owned and charges rates that may vary, based on demand, and the maximum $20 daily cost is not uncommon downtown. Its proximity across the street and convenience to the California Theater is the likely driver for the higher rates. San Jose does not have any oversight in approving rates charged by private parking operators.

As an alternate, try the city”s Second/San Carlos Garage a short walk from the theater. It charges a flat $5 rate after 6 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays.

Q I am thinking of getting a plug-in hybrid car. Are there still stickers available for solo drivers so we can drive in the carpool lane?

Francis A.

San Carlos

A There sure are. The DMV has handed out 58,552 green stickers for plug-in hybrids and the cap is 70,000. Nearly 67,000 white stickers have been issued for all-electric vehicles or ones that run on compressed natural gas and other alternate fuels. There is no limit on white decals. Both carpool perks end in 2019.

Q I recently entered Highway 85 northbound from Stevens Creek Boulevard across from De Anza College. As we approached the metering light I noted that there were three lanes of traffic being allowed on 85. It looked like the very left lane was not working properly, as the two right lanes were letting many more cars through. As we got closer I found the problem: The far left lane is quite wide and the sensing loop is set to the right of the left lane. As cars pull up they are in the middle and do not trip the red light. A restriping is in order.

Tim Ellis

A Caltrans noticed this as well. At times, a vehicle will line up behind the limit line too far to the left and miss being detected. But if the vehicle approaches the limit line centered in the lane the detection loops will usually pick them up. Caltrans may restripe the ramp to have vehicles line up better.

Q The right side of the picture on Page 46 of the DMV manual shows a vehicle parked uphill with no curb and its front wheels pointed to the right. Isn”t that the wrong way to park? If that vehicle”s brakes failed, the vehicle would roll toward the center of the street, curb or no curb. Is the DMV correct?

John Heck

Santa Clara

A Yes. When parked either uphill or downhill on a street without curb, having the front wheels turned to the right will allow the vehicle to roll off the road rather than into the middle of it.